Morphological-Anatomical Adaptation of Aquatics Flora to Mechanical Stress in the Open-Sea Coast of Bengkulu for Cultivation Strategy Development

Abstract

Morphological-Anatomical Adaptation of Aquatics Flora to Mechanical Stress in the Open-Sea Coast of Bengkulu for Cultivation Strategy Development

Ani Sulistiyani, Arin Ulfiana Mubarokah, Rochmah Supriyati

Prodi: S1 Biologi FMIPA Universitas Bengkulu

WA: 083822791165

ABSTRACT

Sepang Bay and Berkas Beach in Bengkulu represent high-energy open-sea characterized by intense wave action and strong hydrodynamic currents. The aquatic flora: Codium fragile, Chaetomorpha sp., Rhodophyta sp., Sargassum sp. and Enhalus acoroides, within these extreme environments is attributed to their specialized morphological and anatomical mechanisms. Despite their abundance, these species remain underutilized and their economic potential is constrained by a lack of tailored cultivation strategies. This research gap stems from insufficient data regarding the morpho-anatomical responses of these taxa to their specific high-stress habitats. This study aims to characterize the morpho-anatomical traits developed under mechanical stress to assess their feasibility for large-scale aquaculture. A field survey was conducted across intertidal and subtidal zones with exploration, followed by rigorous macroscopic and microscopic laboratory analyses. The results showed that Codium fragile develops dark green, cylindrical thalli with regular dichotomous branching; its anatomical resilience is derived from a compact thallus and high-density utricle structures, which minimize hydraulic damage. Chaetomorpha sp. exhibits unbranched, filiform structures composed of rigid cylindrical or barrel-shaped cells, featuring thickened cellulosic walls with cross-linked microfibrils to withstand mechanical shear. Rhodophyta sp. are characterized by densly branched thalli with high phycoerythrin concentrations, possessing a thickened cortex and a dense thallus matrix that serves as both structural protection and a reservoir for high-viscosity hydrocolloids. Enhalus acoroides demonstrates adaptation through robust, lignified rhizomes and elongated, strap-shaped leaves (30–150 cm) designed to reduce drag, alongside large, and nutrient-dense seeds. Cultivation feasibility was evaluated by correlating these biological adaptive traits with modern aquaculture technologies. Given the high-energy maritime conditions of Bengkulu, these species exhibit significant potential for submerged long-line systems or recirculating land-based aquaculture to mitigate wave-induced mechanical failure. Integrating these natural adaptive traits with precision cultivation techniques offers a strategic framework for developing sustainable, local-resource-based marine industries in the region of Bengkulu.